AIKIDO ALIVE UK

Welcome to the affiliated dojos of Aikido Alive UK                                                                                                                   (est. 2002)

We are a non-profit UK based group of Aikido practitioners that share a common foundation in the traditional Takemusu Aikido established in Iwama, Japan, by the late Morihiro Saito Sensei. We promote the complete Aikido curriculum of Riai; empty-handed techniques (tai-jutsu), sword (bokken) and staff (jo).

We are an independent Aikido group within The Joint Aikikai Council (JAC), seeking to establish a dan ranking grading panel among its members that will adhere to the Iwama syllabus of progression. This panel will meet the national requirements of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan (World Headquarters of Aikido) and dan ranks will be registered with them. Currently all Dan grades are bestowed by Aikikai Shihan and registered with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. 

Present director and dojo-cho of Aikido Alive London Bjorn Saw Sensei (5 dan Aikikai) serve as Chairman and founding member of all the affiliated dojos within this group. Each dojo acts independently, choose their own guiding teacher and direction, yet maintain a firm adherence to the regulations and grading specifications of the Aikikai. We come together to serve the need of maintaining the Iwama lineage within the broader Aikido family of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

Our testing criteria follows three simple steps:
1. Kihon and Kokyu, basic understanding of techniques, angles and distance and principles.
2. Ki no nagare, proper understanding of blending in motion.
3. Bukiwaza; aiki-ken and aiki-jo.

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